Technical Progress in Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Our Initial Experience

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has rapidly spread throughout the world because of its low invasiveness and because it is a scarless procedure. Various surgical methods of performing SILC are present in each institute; however, it is necessary to develop a standardized procedure that we can perform safely, such as the conventional 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The SILC experiment in our institute was started by use of the commercial SILS Port and changed from a 3-port method via an umbilicus to a 2-port method to improve some problems. Although none of the conversions to conventional 4-port LC and also none of the complications such as bile duct injury occurred in each method, the 2-port method functioned best and was also economical. However, it is most important to adopt strict criteria and select the patients suitable for SILC to demonstrate SILC safety same as 4-port LC

The RAB2B-GARIL5 Complex Promotes Cytosolic DNA-Induced Innate Immune Responses

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that induces the IFN antiviral response. However, the regulatory mechanisms that mediate cGAS-triggered signaling have not been fully explored. Here, we show the involvement of a small GTPase, RAB2B, and its effector protein, Golgi-associated RAB2B interactor-like 5 (GARIL5), in the cGAS-mediated IFN response. RAB2B-deficiency affects the IFN response induced by cytosolic DNA. Consistent with this, RAB2B deficiency enhances replication of vaccinia virus, a DNA virus. After DNA stimulation, RAB2B colocalizes with stimulator of interferon genes (STING), the downstream signal mediator of cGAS, on the Golgi apparatus. The GTP-binding activity of RAB2B is required for its localization on the Golgi apparatus and for recruitment of GARIL5. GARIL5 deficiency also affects the IFN response induced by cytosolic DNA and enhances replication of vaccinia virus. These findings indicate that the RAB2B-GARIL5 complex promotes IFN responses against DNA viruses by regulating the cGAS-STING signaling axis

Attachment to parents and dependency on someone other than parents in adolescence : Does attachment really regulate interpersonal relationship?

In this study, we investigated the relationship between attachment to parents, dependency on someone other than parents, and independence in adolescence. The subjects were 246 undergraduate students (110 males, 131 females, and 5 unknown). Participants who answered that their dependency was on someone other than their parents were 150 (77 males, 69 females, and 4 unknown). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that the dependency on someone other than their parents affects independence. In particular, dependency on someone other than parents has a buffering effect between attachment to parents and collaborative interpersonal relationships. Our results suggest that adolescents who have unstable attachments to their parents can be adaptive in their development, if they can request psychological support or obtain a stable and secure dependency object.本稿は第二著者である東山花子(旧姓:尾崎)の卒業論文を加筆修正したものである。本誌の投稿資格の関係で主任指導教員が筆頭著者となって公刊する

Relationship between death anxiety and mental health in adolescents from the perspective of coping strategies for death anxiety

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between death anxiety and mental health in adolescents, with a focus on coping strategies for death anxiety. The result indicated that participants who do not cope at all with death anxiety have low death anxiety, but are in bad mental health. Moreover, it was indicated that participants who tried to be careful about their health and have a lifestyle in which every day was fulfilling showed lower scores for depression than those who frequently thought about death and talked about it with others. Furthermore, we found a significant positive collation between mental health and anxiety about dying with goals left unmet. We conclude that death anxiety has both negative and positive correlations with mental health, depending on coping strategies

Major Depressive Disorder Complicated with Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Report of 2 Cases

Background: It is known that patients with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) tend to exhibit depressive symptoms. But the pathology of depressive symptoms complicated with SCA, including the reaction to the stress resulting from decreased motor function and central dysfunction due to neurodegeneration, is controversial and remains to be elucidated. To our knowledge, there have been hardly any reports on treatment methods of major depressive disorder (MDD) complicated with SCA. Case Reports: We report 2 cases in which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were effective against MDD complicated with SCA. Interestingly, one of the patients developed the symptoms of spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) during the course of the MDD, and the other patient developed the symptoms of MDD during the course of SCA, but complete remission of the MDD occurred in both cases. In our cases, the depressive symptoms may have been caused mainly by an abnormality of reversible neural transmission including serotonin transmission due to central dysfunction, and there is the unlikely possibility that the depressive symptoms are reactive to the stress due to decreased motor function, because the depressive symptoms decreased with SSRIs. Conclusion: Although cerebellar degeneration is irreversible in SCA patients, our cases suggest that MDD complicated with SCA may be reversible and treatable using antidepressants such as SSRIs with few adverse events. Therefore, it is important for neurologists to detect MDD complicated with SCA early and consult a psychiatrist in order to improve quality of life of SCA patients

ICONE10-22746 RADIATION INDUCED SURFACE ACTIVITY PHENOMENON (2nd report: Radiation Induced Boiling Enhancement)

ABSTRACT To delineate the effect of Radiation Induced Surface Activity (RISA) on boiling phenomenon, surface wettability in high-temperature environment or Leidenfrost condition and critical heat flux (CHF) of oxide metals irradiated by gamma rays were investigated. When the temperature of the heating surface reaches the wetting limit temperature, water-solid contact vanishes because of a stable vapor film between the droplet and the metal surface, i.e., a Leidenfrost condition. The wetting limit temperature increased with integrated irradiation dose. The CHF of oxidized titanium was improved up to 100% after 800 kGy 60 Co gamma ray irradiated. Radiation Induced Boiling Enhancement (RIBE) phenomenon was firstly confirmed through the experiments